Oil heater



J. PRIMRosE OIL HEATER med uarch v, 1925 ATroRNEY I. INVENTOR WMM/9M..

'45 casing elementsfexternally Patented Nov. 27, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN PRIMROSE, OF RICHMOND, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO FOSTER WHEELER COR- PORATION, F NEW YORK, N. Y.,

A. CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK.

OIL HEATER.

Application mea Maren 7, 1925. serial No. 13,709.

The general object of my invention is to provide an improved tubular heater, especially devised and adapted for use in heating oil in oil refining operations.

More specically, the object of my invention is to provide simple and effective valve provisions for regulating the flow distribution through the different oil paths in a tubular oil heater having its tube elements connected to provide a multiplicity of iow paths each of which comprises a number of tube elements connected in series.

The various features of novelty which characterize my invention are pointed out 16 with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification; -but for a better understanding of the invention, its advantagesl and specific yobjects attained with its use, reference should be had to the ac- 20 companying drawings and descriptive matter in which I have illustrated and described preferred embodiments of my invention.

Of the drawings: Y U Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through the heater;

Fig. 2 is a-transverse sectional view through the heater on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail of one of the re lating valves; and Fig. 4 is an elevation showing the positions of theiregulating valves. i

In the apparatus shown '1n Figs. 1 and 2, A represents an oil heater, comprising a combustion chamber A shown as'adapted to be heated bythe combustion of oil supplied at Af.` The rear wall of the combustionchamber is formedfby .ay bridgewall A3, `'overwhich the l products ofconibustionY pass into the,v upper end ofa heater chamber A4, from* the bottom 40 .of whichfthey pass out to the stack throughY the outletQ/ii..` In the fchamberA are arranged banksof horizontal tubular elements B, which may vwellvbe of the Foster type, i. e., steeltu'bes'surrounded by cast liron ltubular A corrugated to invcrease 'the'heat absorbing surface.' Y

The tub lar, elements VB are connected by return bends E; or otherconnecting devices to providea plurality of 'paths of flow through the'i tubes for .the oil to be heated'.-

s indicated by the broken lines X and Y in lpresent, invention,v they'need prises an upper box-like Aa horizontal flangedl the chamber D is lconnected to` the oil; supply pipe C.l The'distribution v Vtwofflow paths is controlled, in 'acboi'idaificel `with the present invention, by meansof ad- Fig. 2, in the heater illustrated, there are two such paths of flow, each of which includes half of the tubes B ineach of the horizontal rows. The oil enters the path of flow from the oil supply piping C through a' chainbered member D having two openings D in its rear wall, one for each path of flowk In each of the openings D is expanded or otherwise secured, one end of the initial tube element B of the series of connected tube clments forming the corresponding path of flow. After passing through the initial tube element B 'of the flow ath, the oil passes successively through eacii) of the other tubes in A the corresponding half of the lower rows of tubes, then successively through each of the tubes in the corresponding half of the tube row above, and so on until it has passed through all of the tubes B forming the corresponding path of fiow. The outlet end of the final tube element B of each path of flow is Y connected, by al'vertical tube F, and elbow fitting F to a corresponding one of a series of tube elements G incorporated in the roof of the furnace.

In practice the elements G are advantageously connected in series to form extensions of the two paths of `flow into which the tube elements B are divided, the two iiow path extensions discharging into a common outlet H.- Advantageously, also, as shown, portions of the tubes G immediately above the chamber A* are encased in metallic blocks G', and the remaining portions of the tubes G are encased construction are not novel elements of the' ,1 I' not be" further illustratedy or described herein.'y f "-"z'f,

The chambered member D,as-`s`hown," comportion inathe Yflat "rear Wall Ofwhch' the tw@"Openings,` Dfarfe formed. -As shown, ,the part lDalso'comprises: f'; portion D.3 by' which@ of fiowpbeftween th justable throttling devices or valves L locatedy f in the-chamberD and se arably movable in the'latter chamber towar ,and away fromtli'e position in which each extends into and subin fire brick blocks G2, but as these features of.

stantially closes the inlet end of the corresponding tube B. The simple and effective construction illustrated for supporting and adjusting the throttling devices L, comprise a threaded valve spindle J for each member L which is co-axial with the corresponding tube B. Each-spindle J passes through a threaded opening in a plug part I screwed into an opening D2 in the front wall of the member D which is co-axial with the corresponding opening D. The outer end of each spindle J is provided with a handle J by which the spin dle J may be rotated to advance and retract the corresponding device L, and each plug I-is provided at its outer end with a stuing box K forpreventing leakage along the spindle. The plugs I take the place of hand hole covers for the openings D2, the latter being necessary in any event to permit access to the tubes B secured in the openings D.

In the operation of a heater of the type illustrated and described in which there are a plurality of elongated flow paths, it has heretofore been found diiiicult to attain the proper distribution of flow among the different flow paths. With unequal rates of iiow in the different fiow paths, the oil will be heated to a higher temperature in a path in which the flow is relatively slow, than in a path in which the rate of flow is relatively high. Owing to carbon deposits and other causes, it is diflicult to maintain uniform frictional resistance toflow in the two paths. Any decrease in the rate of oil HOW through one path as compared with that through another and the increased oil temperature in the one path increases the vapor liberation in that path, and the increased rate of vapor liberation of itself, tends to increase -the frictional resistance to flow in the path and thus to further reduce the amount and increase the temperature of the oil passing along that path. Substantially equal rates of flow in the two paths are t-hus highly desirable. The regulating devices L provided in accordance with the present invention, form simple and effective means by which on an increase in flow through one path above the rate of flow through the other path, the onepath can be throttled, or the other path opened up to restore the desired equal distribution of flow among the two paths. The actual distribution of flow among-the different paths can be readily determined by measuring the oil temperature at the outlet ends of the different paths, or at suitable intermediate points. The thermometers T, or other oil tem-l perature measuring devlces, the indications of which are to govern the adjustments of the devices L, can be conveniently located in the elbow fittings F', which for this purpose are each provided with a thermometer well F2 for the corresponding thermometer T. When one thermometer T indicates a higher tempera-v ture than does the other thermometer, one or both of the devices L are adjusted to increase the rate of iow in the flow path in which the higher temperature is indicated, as comparedsirable, as the entire flow stoppage in either path would give rise to a dangerous and inj urious condition. With the heater A once in regular operation with the flow equally divided between the two flow aths, the devices L ordinarily require but little attention or adjustment, but when such adjustment is required it can readily be made. i

While in accordance with the provisions of the statutes, I have illustrated and described the best form of embodiment of my invention now known to me, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made in the form of the apparatus disclosed without departing from the spirit of my invention as set forth in the appended claims, and that in same cases certain features of my invention may be used .to advantage without a corresponding use of other features.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and'desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. In an oilheater, they combination with a multiplicity of tubular elements and end connections providing a plurality of similar iiow paths for the" oil to be heated, each comprising a number of said elements connected in series, of a chambered supply member into which the inlet end of the initial element of each of said series is connected, and flow distribution controlling means comprising a separate flow regulating device for each flow path mounted in said chamber and adjustable to variably obstruct iow into the inlet end of the corresponding initial element.

2. In an oil heater, the combination with a multiplicity of tubular elements and end connections providing a plurality of similar flow paths for the oil to be heated, each comprising a number of said elements connected in', series, of a chamber sujpply member into which the inlet end of the initial element of each of said series is connected, and flow distribution controlling means comprising a separate flow regulating device for each flow path mounted in said chamber and adjustable to variably obstruct flow into the inlet end of the corresponding initial element, each said device comprising a part of smaller diameter than the bore of said element and coter.

3. In an oil heater, the combination with a axial with and adjustablyaxially of the lat- A 1,693,155f Y. i y 3 multiplicity of tubular elements and end conand is incapable of entirely closing off flow nections providing a plurality of similar flow through the path to which it pertains when 1 paths forthe oil to he heated, each comprisin its said minimum flow position.

ing a number 'of said elements connected in Signed at New York city, in the county of series, of flow distribution controlling means New` York and State of New York, this 4th comprising a separate flow regulating device day of March, A. D. 1925.

for eaoh flow path which is adjustable between maximum and minimum flow positions JOHN PRIMROSE. 

